Framework
Governing: the instruments listed below, as consolidated on the BOE at 30 Dec 2025. Builds on: Working on Yachts in Spain: Titles, Flags & Charter Law.
The map
| Question | Instrument | Key articles |
|---|---|---|
| What is a charter contract, and what rules can't be contracted out of? | Ley 14/2014 de Navegación Marítima (LNM) | arts. 307–313; 188 and 314 for owner–operator contracts |
| Which register, and how is the boat marked? | RD 1435/2010 (lists 6ª and 7ª) | arts. 2–8 |
| What safety kit, ≤24 m? | RD 339/2021 | arts. 3–23 |
| What rules, >24 m? | RD 804/2014 (buques de recreo) | arts. 3–13, 25–30 |
| Despacho, rol, enrolment, change of use, fines | RONM, RD 186/2023, as amended by RD 1188/2025 | arts. 2, 9, 11–26, 47–55 |
| Who may skipper and crew | RD 269/2022 (professional), RD 875/2014 (recreational, bareboat, habilitaciones) | art. 93; DA 3ª, arts. 34–36 |
| Insurance floors | RD 607/1999 (liability), RD 1575/1989 (travellers' accident) | |
| Interim or technical rules | DGMM resolutions and service instructions | Res. 17 Jul 2025; IS 2/2021 |
The operator's own filing
The ministry's charter page says that, under the RONM, a charter business files a declaración responsable for particulars and companies in arrendamiento náutico, signed by the owner, operator or charterer, with the updated crew list, and keeps two policies in force: third-party liability and accident cover for everyone aboard. It is a business activity, so tax and (where relevant) regional obligations apply as well.
Recent history in four dates
- 15 Aug 2025: the RONM despacho, rol and enrolment chapters apply.
- 22 Jul 2025: DGMM Resolution of 17 Jul 2025 sets interim change-of-use conditions.
- 31 Dec 2025: RD 1188/2025 in force: change of use in RONM art. 9, one-year limit on simplified despacho, foreign-crew database.
- 1 Oct 2026: no-title exception for small motorboats limited to private use.
WARNING — Repealed but still quoted You will still see Orden FOM/1144/2003 (equipment, repealed from 1 Jul 2021 by RD 339/2021), RD 973/2009 (professional titles, repealed by RD 269/2022), the 1985 charter Order (repealed by the RONM) and RD 1696/2007 (medicals, replaced by RD 505/2024). Even RD 804/2014 art. 7.2 and RD 875 art. 5 still cite RD 973/2009. Read old checklists with care.
The regional layer
The state regulates the ship, the crew and the voyage. Regions may regulate charter as a tourism and leisure activity. The Balearic Islands do so through Decreto 44/2025, which requires a regional declaration per boat and bans charter by boats on a temporary change of use. That conflict is taken up in L2.3; the Balearic procedure itself is in Balearic Charter Compliance.
TIP — Read the consolidated text Always use the BOE texto consolidado and check the "última actualización" line. RONM art. 9 has two versions, and only the 31 Dec 2025 text is current.
How this course runs
Module 2 deals with the vessel, Module 3 with the people, Module 4 with kit and insurance, Module 5 with despacho and crew records, and Module 6 with foreign flags and tax.